One

I'm here! I'm here! I'm going to try to blog every day this year. So I figured I'd better at least do a post on the first day of the year before I blow it.

We're spending the first day of the year planning our upcoming vacations. What else should be done on the first day of the year?

I'm so out of blogging practice. There's been so much going on, so many first activities with Avery, yet I'm struggling with finding words to write.

Christmas in Colorado & Wyoming - part I
We flew into Denver on the 23rd. That afternoon we drove up to my mom's house and met up with Damian's brother and his wife and their son (Justin, Caroline, Olly). It was a tight squeeze to fit us all in my mom's house, but it also had a nice cozy feeling to it.

Christmas Eve we all drove up to Collin & Denise's cabin in Wyoming to spend the day with family and friends: Collin & Denise & Dylan; Dad and Joy; Mom; Justin & Caroline & Olly; Katherine & Andrew (family friends with whom I've spent more holidays than I can count); Damian & Avery & me. Denise and Collin did an amazing amount of work to prepare their cabin to host so many people for the afternoon and evening. The cabin, which they bought this past summer and spent the summer and fall renovating, is beautiful. It's truly an inviting and beautiful space. Following dinner, we opened presents as a family, with most presents being opened by the three children (Olly-7 yo, Avery-4 yo, Dylan-3.5yo). That evening, we (Damian, Avery, and I) stayed overnight at the cabin with Justin, Caroline & Olly. The rest of the family headed to Collin and Denise's house in Cheyenne.

Christmas morning we opened presents from Santa at the cabin, then headed to Cheyenne to say hi/bye to C&D&D and Dad & Joy. The two Smith families and Mom then drove back to Mom's house in Eaton to open more presents.

Post-Christmas in Colorado - part II
The day after Christmas (aka my birthday) we drove up to the house near Winter Park for a weeklong stay with Vic & Mike & Bear. Joining us there, for parts of that week, were Mom and Mike's parents.

Mom, Avery, and I only skied one day. I know that's pathetic, but I don't regret not pushing myself to go more. The truth is I'm just more a laze about the cabin type person than a let's get out on the slopes type person. Avery did great in ski school and made it through the whole lesson. She said she enjoyed it, but didn't want to go again and I didn't want to push too hard.

We also went tubing one day. That was way more fun than I was expecting. Avery really enjoyed it, too.

The rest of the time at the cabin in Colorado was spent lounging about, reading, napping, eating, and visiting. Really, it was quite ideal.